RMERF counts, November 5

Monday, November 05 Mount Lorette [Day 43] 0720-1630 (George Halmazna, assisted by Dan Parliament). The temperature was -4C to 0900, the high was -3C from 1000 to 1300 and it was then -4C again for the rest of the day. Ground winds were N all day, light to 1300 then 10-25 km/h to the end of observation, while ridge winds appeared to be light NW-NE. Cloud cover was 80-100% cumulus and stratus all day that produced snow between 1000 and 1230 and very light snow for the rest of the afternoon. The east ridges were 50% obscured to 1000 and were then not then seen again, and the west was 10% obscured to 1000 and then 90% obscured for the rest of the day. The only migrant raptor was 1u Sharp-shinned Hawk that flew low to the south above the river at 1044. Other birds were more abundant, however, and comprised 3080 Canada Geese that flew south in 35 flocks, 265 Mallards in 4 flocks, 67 Common Mergansers in 4 flocks, 7 large unidentified gulls also flying south, 1 American Three-toed Woodpecker, 1a Northern Shrike, 4 Canada Jays, 1 Black-billed Magpie, 7 Common Ravens, 5 Mountain Chickadees, 1 Boreal Chickadee, 2 American Dippers, 16 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 European Starling, 2 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches, 9 White-winged Crossbills, 120 Common Redpolls in 3 flocks and 2 cismontanus Dark-eyed Juncos. Barrier Lake also yielded a flock of 31 Hooded Mergansers. There were no visitors today.

9.16 hours (447.7) SSHA 1 (68) TOTAL 1 (2987)

Monday, November 05Vicki Ridge [Day 40] 1345-1700 (Peter Sherrington, assisted by Hilary Atkinson observing from the Waterton 61 wellsite). Low fog obscured all ridges until 1330 when it began to lift. We arrived at the site at 1345 when the temperature was -4C, the wind was ESE 10 km/h and the southern end of Vicki Ridge was just visible through the fog. The lower part of the ridge was clear at 1445 and the ridge completely cleared at 1615 and Kyllo Ridge followed 5 minutes later. Cloud cover was revealed to be 100% stratus and the temperature fell to -6C with light snow at 1700 with winds after 1500 E 10-15 km/h. No migrant raptors were seen, but other birds were a flock of 52 Canada Geese that flew high to the west at 1643, 200 Mallards that flew even higher to the west at 1646, 1 Clark’s Nutcracker, 30 Common Ravens including a tight flock of 37 that flew to the west at 1606, 290 Bohemian Waxwings, a single flock of 150 Grey-crowned Rosy-Finches flying south and 2 Pine Siskins.

3.25 hours (354.9) TOTAL 0 (4435)

Monday, November 05 Steeples [Day 42] 1515-1645 (Vance Mattson). The temperature was 8C that dropped to 6C at 1645, winds were moderate E and cloud cover was 100% stratus, cumulus and altostratus. The ridges became shrouded from the east at 1630 as light rain began to fall. Three migrants were seen: 1u Golden Eagle at 1515 and 2 Bald Eagles (1a, 1j) at 1551. A resident Golden Eagle was also seen briefly.

About RMERF

Since 1992, Rocky Mountain Eagle Research Foundation (RMERF) volunteers have performed annual raptor migration counts at the same site location in the Kananaskis Country, Alberta, spring and fall; significantly providing data to the understanding of and amazement in watching Golden Eagles.